Electrical connector



Nov; 10, 'I97OT J. w. CLEMENTS 3,539]? ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed July10, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I 2 8O 45 s p; C 2

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INVENTOR. JOHN W. CLEMENTS BY JM\ Q ATTORNEY.

United States Patent.

3,539,967 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR John W. Clements, Naperville, Ill.,assignor to Flexicon Electronics, Inc. Filed July 10, 1967, Ser. No.652,171 Int. Cl. Hk 1/12; H011 7/06 US. Cl. 339-17 2 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE An electrical connector for selectively connecting aplurality of longitudinally extending transversely spaced conductors ona dielectric ribbon to similar conductors on another dielectric ribbonwithout abrasion of any of the conductors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Electrical connector apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART.

Connectors constructed and arranged to effect electrical connectionbetween flared terminal portions of flat conductored cable andconventional connector devices such as pins and sockets, etc.

SUMMARY Apparatus for electrically connecting multiconductored flatcables each to the other in precise alignment by the use of compressiveforces without the need for soldering or the application of heat, andwithout the need for any tools. The invention contemplates the use of aprogrammed modifier strip between the confronting conductive paths ofthe several cables to afford a predetermined electrical connectionbetween certain of the conductive strips of one cable on certain otherconductive strips of an other cable not in register with the certainstrips of the first cable. The invention also contemplates the use ofpermanent magnets to effect the requisite compressive force, and alsocontemplates the exclusion of ambient air from the vicinity of thecontacts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of theinvention will become apparent as the description proceeds withreference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical elevational view of an electrical connector made inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational end view of the connector of FIG. 1 as viewedfrom the left in that figure;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a conductor cable of the type adapted to beconnected by the present connector;

FIG. 4 is an elevational sectional view taken substantially on line 44of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the connector of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational sectional view taken substantially online 66 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of a modified form of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connector of the presentinvention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 and includes ahousing 12 having a bottom section 14' preferably of thermosettingplastic, such as Bakelite or the like, and a top section 16 of similarconstruction. At the upper marginal edge of the lower section 14, at oneside thereof Patented Nov. 10, 1970 is an outwardly extending flange 18having formed therein an elongated recess 20 for reception of a seal 22.In like fashion, the opposite side of the lower section 14 is providedwith an outwardly extending flange 24 having a recess 26 for receptionof a seal 28. The top section 16 at one side thereof is provided with anoutwardly extending elongated flange 30 having a recess 32 whichreceives the seal 22, and the opposite thereof is formed with anoutwardly extending flange 34 having a recess 36 in which is receivedthe seal 28.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, the left end of theconnector is formed with a pair of spaced interlock assemblies 38. Eachinterlock assembly 38 is provided with an outwardly extending malesection 40 and an outwardly extending flange 41 extending outwardly fromthe left of the top section 16 and coplanar with the flange 30. Agenerally hook-shaped female section 44 is integrally formed with anoutwardly extending flange 45 integrally formed with the bottom section14.

At the right end of upper section 16 is an outwardly extending flange 46having an elongated recess 48 for reception of a seal 50. In likemanner, the lower section 14 is formed with an outwardly extendingflange 52 having a recess 54 for accommodation of the seal 50. Theflanges 46 and 52 are held in sealing relationship by a pair of clampassemblies 56, as best shown in FIG. 6. Each clamp assembly includes aC-shaped bod portion 58, a cam and an actuator bar 62 which extendsbetween the cam assemblies for simultaneous actuation of both assembliesby movement of the bar 62 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 6.Disengagement of the clamp assemblies may be effected by moving the bar62 oppositely.

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the lower section 14 isformed with spaced parallel longitudinally extending recesses 64 and 66while the upper section 16 is formed with spaced parallel longitudinallyextending recesses 68 and 70 in register with the recesses 64 and 66,respectively, thus forming chambers 72 and 74 for reception of an inertgas. The central longitudinal portion of the sections 14 and 16 areformed with complementary sinusoidal surfaces 76 and 78. Between thesesurfaces are received the end portions of cables 80 and 82 which aredisposed in reverse overlapping relation on the surfaces and maintainedin precise registration .by means of alignment pins 84 which arereceived in registered openings in the surfaces 76 and 78 and passthrough openings 86 formed in the side marginal edges of the cables. Itwill be appreciated that each of the conductors 88 on the surface of thecable 80 is brought into intimate conductive relation to thecorresponding conductors on the inverted surface of the cable 82 becauseof the presence of the pins 84 and because of the compressive forcesprovided by the cooperation between the interlock assemblies 38 and theclamp assemblies 60/. Ambient air, which would tend to corrode thecontacts 88, is excluded from the vicinity of the sinusoidal surfaces bythe presence of the inert gas in chambers 72 and 74.

In FIG. 7 is shown a modified form of the invention wherein referencenumeral 101: represents an electrical connector for use in cases Wherethe exclusion of ambient air is unimportant and in which the need forthe clamp assemblies 60 is obviated. In this form of the invention lowersection 14a is in the form of a hollow substantially rectangular boxhaving received therein a slidable insert 90 having a sinusoidal surface76a, and biased into engagement with one of the walls of the containerby means of a spring 92. The upper section 16a is formed in a similarmanner to the lower section 14a and may be hinged and latched thereto byany convenient means. The upper section 16a is provided with a slidableinsert 94 having a sinusoidal surface 7 8a complementary to sinusoidalsurfaces 76a of the insert 90. The insert 94 is biased to the right asviewed in FIG. 7, by means of a spring 96. By this arrangement,compressive forces are exerted on the flat cables 80 and 82 through theconfronting side faces of the surfaces 76a and 78a.

Connection of the housing sections each to the other may also beeffected by magnetic repulsion or attraction if desired. The inventionalso contemplates the provision of self-camrning housing sections thatmay be snapped into closed position. It is also contemplated that thehousing sections be secured each to the other by the provision of anirradiated plastic loop extending around both interlock assemblies. Theloop may be shrunk by the application of heat and remain in thisshrunken condition for permanent electrical connection of the severalconductor cables.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a programmed modifierstrip which may be interposed between the confronting faces of theconductored cables to modify the path of the flow of electrons asdesired.

The sections 14 and 16 are so constructed as to eifect engagement onlyin the areas of cable contacts. There is a clearance gap between allother internal cable surfaces.

The above described invention exhibits important advantages overelectrical connectors heretofore known. For instance, the requirement oflaterally enlarged terminal sections in the conductor cable iseliminated and a roll of flat conductor cable may be dispensed and usedin any desired lengths, as required.

I claim:

1. An electrical connector comprising a housing having a first elongatesection having a central longitudinal portion formed with asubstantially sinusoidal surface, a second elongate section formed witha central longitudinal portion provided with a complementarysubstantially sinusoidal surface, said housing being adapted to receivethe end marginal portions of reversed flat conductors in overlappingrelation, means for assuring precise alignment of said cables Withinsaid housing, clamp means for releasably securing said sections each tothe other so that a compressive force is exerted to urge said cablesinto electrically conductive relation, and means provided for excludingambient air from the sinusoidal surfaces, said means including a pair ofchambers one on each side of the central longitudinal portions, saidchambers being adapted to receive an inert gas.

2. An electrical connector inaccordance with claim 1 wherein saidsections are provided with confronting peripheral flanges and whereinsealing means are provided to prevent escape of the inert gas.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,082,398 3/ 1963 Valach.3,214,723 10/1965 Dupre et 9.1. 3,316,520 4/1967 Herman.

OTHER REFERENCES IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, vol. 5, No. 11,April 1963, E. I. Webb, pp. 22 and 23. RICHARD E. MOORE, PrimaryExaminer P. A. CLIFF-0RD, Assistant Examiner us. c1. X.R. 339-12, 75,117

